IRISH GARDENING 



91 



subject. I think Mr. Anderson and Mf. 8euife 

 would have obtained better results if they had 

 approached it from the other side, and got definite 

 information as to plants which are usually difficult 

 and bad doers, or biennial, monocarpus or half 

 hardy. It is far easier to eliminate these than to 

 enumerate all the alpuies that may survive five or 

 six seasons. 



MuRR.tY HORNIBROOK. 



The Gloriosa, 



A Superb Climber. 

 The name given to this climber is indicative of 

 its excellence. The Gloriosa is, indeed, a glorious 

 flower, quaint in its formation and beautiful 

 when seen depending from the roof of a warm 

 conservatory or stove, its flowers of gold and 

 orange and carmine-red denoting that it is a 

 plant something out of the ordinary. Though it 

 is best suited when grown in the warm, humid 

 atmosphere to be found in a stove, it can also be 

 satisfactorily dealt with in a greenhouse where 

 heat is kept little beyond the normal. Gloriosas 

 are at the zenith of their beauty from July to 

 Septeml)er, and in a suital)le environment throw 

 up shoots upwards of 6 feet in length which, if 

 trained early in the season, can be drawn under 

 the rafters or on a trellis on the back wall of a 

 conservatory. They are tuberous-rooted subjects, 

 and are in a dormant state during winter, when 

 the pots should be turned on their sides, and 

 kept free from both damp and frost, starting them 

 into growth in a brisk heat about February. Peat 

 loam, cow manure, and coarse silver sand should 

 form the compost. They enjoy liberal supplies 

 of water during the season of growth. 



W. I.INDERS Lea. 



Sweet Peas 



In August these charming flowers are beginning 

 to feel the strain of flowering, and particulai% 

 so this season after the early and prolonged 

 drought. We refer chiefly to plants grown for 

 garden decoration and for cutting rather than 

 to those grown for exhibition, and which are 

 specially cared for. It is a kindness to the plants 

 to cut the flowers regularly, for although it is 

 their nature to form seeds abundantly, they 

 rapidly come to an end when allowed to do so. 



Copious waterings are necessary during dry 

 weather, and frequent applications of weak 

 manure water will keep the plants growing and 

 producing floweis 



Sorbaria 



This is the generic name adopted by some l)otan- 

 ists for the species of Spirsea belonging to the 

 section which includes the well-known Sp. Aitchi- 

 soni and <S'p. LiiuUeunna. 



They are distinguished by their unequally 

 pinnate leaves of large size, the leaflets corre- 

 spondingly large and rather prominently veined. 



Two varieties of Sorlxnia (irhorea were intro- 

 duced from China by E. II. Wilson, and are now 

 large, vigorous shrubs; they are .S'. arhorea, var. 

 qlalmttd (W. 499), and .S'. arhorea, var. suhtomen- 

 fom (W. 2,35). 



Both are vigorous, producing long growths 

 annually, bearing large leaves having from six 

 to seven pairs of leaflets, and terminated by very 



large much-branched inflorescences composed of 

 numerous creamy-white flowers of short duration. 

 As growing in the Glasnevin collection, the 

 differences between the two species are not easy 

 to discover. The leaves of the latter are here 

 from 12 to 15 inches in length, the leaflets 3 to 4 

 inches long, and from 1^ to 2 inches wide, 

 rounded or slightly tapered at the base and with 

 a long acuminate point. In the variety fjlabrata 

 the leaves are slightly smaller, averaging about 

 12 to 13 inches, but otherwise both leaves and 

 leaflets are similar in shape to those of the 

 variety suhtornentasa; both, so far as I can dis- 

 cern, are glabrous on the upper surface and 

 densely tomentose between the veins below. The 

 slight difference in size of the leaves might easily 

 be accounted for by difference in soil and posi- 

 tion, as the var. suhtomentosa is growing in a 

 comparatively newly-made border, while ylabrata 

 is growing in a bed occupied by various Spiraeas 

 for many years. Where plenty of room can be 

 allowed for development, the Sorbarias make 

 handsome shrubs for late summer flowering. 

 They should be pruned in sprins. 



J. W. B. 



Hardy Perennials 



The hardy perennials on light soils have suffered 

 severely during early summer. Delphiniums, 

 lAipins, Pgeonias, and Pyrethrums were nothing 

 like so vigorous as usual, and their flowers passed 

 over quickly. Every endeavour must be made to 

 help the late summer and autumn bloomers to 

 develop as freely as possible. Helianthuses. 

 Heleniums, Rudbeckias, Michaelmas Daisies. 

 Anemone japonica, Heliopsis, Kniphofias, Tri- 

 tomas (Montbretiaj. and others have still a 

 chance to develop, and should receive everv en- 

 couragement. Keep the soil well stirred about 

 them at every opportunity, and water well when- 

 ever possible during dry weather : it will take 

 much rain now to moisten the soil to any depth, 

 so that time Avill not be wasted Avatering even 

 after a day's rain. As soon as the surface begins 

 to dry after rain or watering loosen well with the 

 hoe to prevent caking. There is every possibility of 

 a brilliant autumn display after the hot weather 

 of early summer. 



Border Chrysanthemums 



The long spell of drought has been rather severe 

 on Chrysanthemums, "" more especially where 

 planted out somewhat late, after spring bedding 

 plants. The growth is short and not free, and 

 there is a tendency to early bud formation mili- 

 tating against free growth. Water should be 

 applied where possi])te as long as the clrought 

 continues, and the hoe should be kept going 

 between the plants as often as possible to keep 

 the surface soil loose and friable. After watering 

 with clear water, a weak stimulant will be bene- 

 ficial, and manure water from the cow sheds is 

 as good as any, providing it is well diluted. 

 Where no natural manure water is available, 

 nitrate of soda, at the rate of i oz. to not less 

 than 2 gallons of water may he used. 



** The Orchid Review " 



After a lapse of six months we are glad to note 

 the re-issue of our admirable contemporary. 

 Founded by the late R. Allen Rolfe, A.L.S., and 

 edited ))y him for twenty-eight years, it has 



